Discussion
I have one of these and have experienced loads of problems with it. In fact, since buying it in Aug 05 it's been back to the factory 4 times and is in fact still there after 3 months.
If anyone is contemplating buying one let me know and I will happily spill the beans. Mine isn't a "friday afternoon "car either, they are all rubbish and have some serious problems, however, it's Caterham service which is the main problem, it's terrible! They have moved into the £40000 car bracket but kept the kit car service.
If anyone is contemplating buying one let me know and I will happily spill the beans. Mine isn't a "friday afternoon "car either, they are all rubbish and have some serious problems, however, it's Caterham service which is the main problem, it's terrible! They have moved into the £40000 car bracket but kept the kit car service.
Catalogue of disaters really but basically the CSR is an unfinished project.
So:-
2 gearboxes- the Caterham 6 speed is simply not up to the torque.
1 Rear Diff
Brakes fade
Heat problem origanially denied now a recall, foot well that is.
Engine runs too cold, design fault with the front
Bits falling off, rear view mirror etc
Petrol pissing out of the filler, said was fixed twice but still isn't
Handling not brilliant as a track car, comprimised for the road
Pedals badly spaced
The car is still at Caterham, been there since Oct!
Want more?
So:-
2 gearboxes- the Caterham 6 speed is simply not up to the torque.
1 Rear Diff
Brakes fade
Heat problem origanially denied now a recall, foot well that is.
Engine runs too cold, design fault with the front
Bits falling off, rear view mirror etc
Petrol pissing out of the filler, said was fixed twice but still isn't
Handling not brilliant as a track car, comprimised for the road
Pedals badly spaced
The car is still at Caterham, been there since Oct!
Want more?
jackg said:
2 gearboxes- the Caterham 6 speed is simply not up to the torque.
1 Rear Diff
Brakes fade
Heat problem origanially denied now a recall, foot well that is.
Engine runs too cold, design fault with the front
Bits falling off, rear view mirror etc
Petrol pissing out of the filler, said was fixed twice but still isn't
Handling not brilliant as a track car, comprimised for the road
Pedals badly spaced
gearbox & diff - fair enough
brakes - have you uprated the pads/fluid. Not a criticism, but it could also be driving style?
bits falling off - it is in essence still a kit car. TVR also have build quality problems (for similar priced cars)
Petrol p1ssing out - that is bad news. Caterham absolutely must take responsibility for that, or issue a recall. Very bad.
Handling - hs the car been set up, or just driven st out of the box? Again, not a criticism, but as a lot of the caterham racers will tell you, the car is very sensitive to driving style and is not a mitsubushi Evo XYZ with 'active' diffs, etc
Pedals - can these not be moved to a suitable position as per the series 3 cars?
These are only my comments FWIW, and are not meant in any way to be critical.
Don't most caterhams piss out fuel on left handers on track? Mine did, and was sorted quickly with the standard fuel vent mod - most track/race prep companies will happily do this.
6-speed gearbox failure; sounds like a nightmare - is it a common? I have a straight cut type 9 in my duratec which has been fine (touch wood). What broke on the diff? Was it with fat slicks?
danny
6-speed gearbox failure; sounds like a nightmare - is it a common? I have a straight cut type 9 in my duratec which has been fine (touch wood). What broke on the diff? Was it with fat slicks?
danny
C400 will basically be the same spec as my car which has completed approx 2,000 road miles and 2,000 track miles without any problems (other than a gearbox leak) - so I wouldn't anticipate many problems.
The brake issue with the CSR may well be because the master cylinder is now mounted very close to the exhaust headers and so is overheating.
The brake issue with the CSR may well be because the master cylinder is now mounted very close to the exhaust headers and so is overheating.
C400 uses a 2l Duratec circa 200bhp, so it's not going to pelt the drivetrain as badly as the CSR260.
I'd be interested in hearing what broke in the diff. The CSR isn't the first car to put big power & torque through the Ford 7", though it has probably moved the tyre game on compared to previous Caterhams. When I was getting my diff built, the builder had a 6sp from an early Duratec car on the bench, and he was pretty pessimistic about its suitability for that engine.
I'd be interested in hearing what broke in the diff. The CSR isn't the first car to put big power & torque through the Ford 7", though it has probably moved the tyre game on compared to previous Caterhams. When I was getting my diff built, the builder had a 6sp from an early Duratec car on the bench, and he was pretty pessimistic about its suitability for that engine.
jackg said:
Catalogue of disaters really but basically the CSR is an unfinished project.
So:-
2 gearboxes- the Caterham 6 speed is simply not up to the torque.
1 Rear Diff
Brakes fade
Heat problem origanially denied now a recall, foot well that is.
Engine runs too cold, design fault with the front
Bits falling off, rear view mirror etc
Petrol pissing out of the filler, said was fixed twice but still isn't
Handling not brilliant as a track car, comprimised for the road
Pedals badly spaced
The car is still at Caterham, been there since Oct!
Want more?
That is abysmal. For a car which must have the most factory profit of anything that price, they should be producing better results.
£40,000 for a very basic 4-pot engine, some framework and somewhere to sit is incredibly expensive as it is, you would at least expect top workmanship.
Caterham should come on here and state what they are prepared to do. I say you should get a new car with which to try again.
535d said:Err, I wouldn't call the engine very basic since it's pushing 10k alone! I doubt they're making a huge profit on them if you consider the development cost (and a few years of teething trouble). I have the same diff and more torque so am worried! But I don't use wide slicks at least.
£40,000 for a very basic 4-pot engine
Ok, may I firstly point out that this is in clear breach of our 'no naming and shaming' rules.
Jack, you are in dispute with Caterham over the quality of your car. You've given a few choice facts, I've had another (very comprehensive) view presented to me by Caterham.
Caterham's version of events sounds very plausible, their actions very reasonable and would suggest that you've left out key facts concerning what they've offered to try and rectify and repair the situation.
This is precisely why we have our 'no name and shame rule'. We can't judge whose account of the proceedings is more accurate and nor should we be required to do so.
You are attempting to discredit Caterham in a public forum which is dubious and unwelcome behaviour.
If you have a grievance, deal with it via the normal channels in the real world.
As for as PH is concerned, discussion of this issue stops here.
Jack, you are in dispute with Caterham over the quality of your car. You've given a few choice facts, I've had another (very comprehensive) view presented to me by Caterham.
Caterham's version of events sounds very plausible, their actions very reasonable and would suggest that you've left out key facts concerning what they've offered to try and rectify and repair the situation.
This is precisely why we have our 'no name and shame rule'. We can't judge whose account of the proceedings is more accurate and nor should we be required to do so.
You are attempting to discredit Caterham in a public forum which is dubious and unwelcome behaviour.
If you have a grievance, deal with it via the normal channels in the real world.
As for as PH is concerned, discussion of this issue stops here.
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